►
Description
To view the entire Board of Education Meeting from December 14, 2022 on our YouTube channel, visit https://youtu.be/GaGqITaJ6Wg
A
I
have
spent
as
little
time
in
my
office
as
possible
wanting
instead
to
be
out
at
our
schools
and
other
buildings
at
meetings
and
events
with
community
members
and
elected
officials
alike,
and
interacting
with
our
students
and
employees.
Here's
what
I've
learned
this
is
a
good
school
system,
a
really
good
school
system.
A
I
stand
here
tonight
on
the
rock
solid
foundation
left
by
those
who
came
before
me
and
I
say
to
you
that
this
school
system,
our
school
system,
can
be
great.
That's
what
I
want
and
I
know.
That's
what
you
want
for
every
single
student
we
serve
today
and
will
serve
in
the
future.
We
have
a
lot
of
work
to
do
to
get
there,
but
I
will
say
again
what
I
said
in
June.
Education
is
the
pathway
to
economic
prosperity.
A
A
A
Anne
Arundel,
with
the
CEO
of
the
housing
authority
of
the
city
of
Annapolis,
with
board
members,
principals
and
other
employee
groups,
with
leaders
in
our
County
police
and
health
departments,
members
of
the
business
community
and
with
the
Garrison
commander
and
his
team
at
Fort,
Meade
and
I've
had
conversations
with
our
routine
advisory
students
taking
part
in
a
school
Leadership
Summit
students
in
the
Maryland
Association
of
student
councils
and
everyday
citizens
whose
lives
are
impacted
by
the
work.
We
do
all
were
robust
conversations
about
what
each
person
or
group
felt
was
important.
A
A
The
best
possible
educational
experience
for
every
single
student
in
our
school
system
that
ultimately
makes
Anne
Arundel
County
better
for
everyone,
as
part
of
my
100-day
entry
plan,
we're
now
in
the
midst
of
16
sessions,
of
our
listening
and
learning
tour,
an
opportunity
for
residents
across
our
County,
whether
they
have
students
in
our
school
system
or
not
to
offer
their
thoughts
about
what
we're
doing
well,
where
we
need
to
improve
and
what
new
initiatives
they'd
like
to
see
in
our
school
system.
The
opinions
are,
and
will
continue
to
be
diverse,
because
our
county
is
diverse.
A
We
have
many.
We
will
have
many
more
conversations
with
more
groups
as
we
move
forward
every
opinion
matters,
because
every
student
matters.
We
cannot
truly
know
where
we
are
without
fully
embracing
the
amazing
diversity
of
our
communities.
Every
ounce
of
it
and
getting
where
we
want
to
go
is
impossible
without
knowing
exactly
where
we
are
and
where
we
are
coming
from.
The
budget
I
will
recommend
to
you
tonight
reflects
decisions
made
as
a
result
of
the
hundreds
of
conversations
to
date
and
is
aligned
with
two
sets
of
ideas.
A
The
second
is
a
set
of
four
pillars
upon
which
our
next
strategic
plan
must
rest:
equity,
innovation,
the
social,
emotional
and
academic
growth
of
all
students
and,
last
but
not
least,
adherence
to
the
blueprint
for
Maryland's
future.
If
we're
going
to
take
the
next
steps
to
being
great,
we
must
address
those
areas.
A
I
have
to
tell
you
that
the
most
surprising
thing
I've
learned
since
getting
here
is
the
way
our
employees
are,
or
should
I
say
or
not,
compensated
compared
to
surrounding
jurisdictions.
We
are
one
of
the
wealthiest
counties
in
a
state
ranked
as
one
of
the
wealthiest
in
the
nation,
but
our
minimum
teacher
salary
ranks
20th
out
of
24
jurisdictions.
In
Maryland,
our
average
teacher
salary
is
15th
out
of
24
jurisdictions
and
about
seven
thousand
dollars
below
the
state
average
to
their
credit.
A
County
Executive
Pittman,
the
County
Council
and
the
school
board
have
made
significant
strides
over
the
last
four
years
in
putting
teachers
back
on
their
proper,
proper
salary
step.
But
we
can't
compete
for
teachers
against
Baltimore,
County
Howard
County
in
Montgomery
County.
When
we
pay
thousands
of
dollars
less.
A
The
work
is
just
as
hard
and
the
cost
of
living
is
just
as
high.
What
incentive
do
those
statistics
give
young
teachers
and
career
Changers
to
join
our
team
and
help
us
become
great?
What
incentive
does
it
give
veteran
teachers
to
stay
here
and
with
more
than
a
half
a
million
teachers
Across
the
Nation,
leaving
the
profession
over
the
last
two
years?
A
What
do
we
need
to
do
in
order
to
scale
that
Recruitment
and
Retention
Mountain?
We
need
competitive
pay
for
our
teachers.
We
also
need
competitive
pay
for
bus
drivers,
custodians
maintenance,
employees,
secretaries,
Food,
Service
workers
and
all
of
the
employees
who
work
in
this
school
system.
We
have
employees
trying
to
make
ends
meet
while
earning
less
than
13
dollars
an
hour.
I
just
have
to
call
it
like
I
see
it,
that's
not
a
livable
wage
and,
quite
frankly,
it's
embarrassing.
A
A
Our
families
and
communities
can
do
it
simply
by
being
kind
and
thankful
by
not
screaming
at
secretaries,
bus
drivers,
teachers
or
anyone
else
who
is
simply
doing
their
best
in
trying
circumstances,
we
can
do
it
with
tones
of
appreciation,
collaboration
and
gratitude.
Not
anger,
disrespect
and
discuss
addressing
the
issue
of
compensation
gaps
will
make
it
easier
to
close
opportunity
gaps
for
our
students.
Those
begin
with
our
youngest
Learners.
Before
they
ever
arrive
at
our
schools,
our
fall
2021
kindergarten,
Readiness
assessment
data
shows
that
nearly
50
percent
of
our
white
students
are
adequately
prepared
for
kindergarten.
A
While
just
over
30
percent
of
our
African-American
students
and
17
percent
of
our
Hispanic
students
are,
we
must
find
ways
to
increase
Community,
Partnerships
and
engagement
to
address
issues
that
are
changing
in
a
county
that
is
becoming
more
and
more
diverse.
By
today,
the
number
of
Hispanic
students
in
our
system,
for
example,
has
doubled
over
the
last
10
years.
Our
percentage
of
students
receiving
free
and
reduced
price
meals
rose
seven
percent
over
the
last
year
and
is
higher
than
40
percent.
A
For
the
first
time
ever,
we
must
evolve
to
a
place
where,
as
a
community,
we
adequately
address
those
issues.
We
must
Champion
Early
Education
and
we
must
utilize
to
the
greatest
extent
possible
the
expansion
of
pre-K
for
both
three
and
four-year-olds
to
provide
more
enrichment
for
our
youngest
Learners.
We
converted
the
last
of
our
half
day,
four-year-old
programs
to
full
day
this
year
and
added
eight
three-year-old
Pre-K
classrooms,
but
there
is
far
more
to
do
the
work
we
do
in
early
childhood.
A
It
helps
close
and
eventually
eliminate
gaps
in
many
areas,
such
as
reading
and
mass
performance,
where
the
percentages
of
our
African-American
and
Hispanic
students
meeting
or
exceeding
standards,
still
Trails
white
students
by
considerable
margins.
The
diversity
of
our
student
populations
needs,
as
well
as
the
available
support.
Structures
in
our
communities
means
that
that
there
is
no
single
one
approach
to
get
the
results
we
want.
Equity
has
long
been
a
pillar
of
this
school
system's
efforts
and
the
work
has
been
applaudible.
A
We
need
to
increase
those
efforts
and
differentiate
approaches
where
appropriate,
so
that
every
student
can
succeed
as
I
as
I
have
told
everyone
I've
met
with.
If
we
do
Equity
correctly,
everybody
wins.
Equity
is
not
about
everybody.
Getting
a
pair
of
shoes,
it's
about
everybody,
getting
the
right
size,
shoes
and
about
people
getting
to
know
students,
so
we
can
help
them
based
on
their
individual
needs.
A
A
A
He
puts
his
hand
on
my
shoulder
as
I'm,
going
to
my
desk
to
process
the
paperwork
and
I
turn
around
and
I.
Look
at
this
kid
and
he
had
a
tear
coming
down
his
face
and
he
said
Mr
Bedell
you
mean
to
tell
me
you're
going
to
suspend
me.
You
don't
even
know
me:
I
come
to
school
every
day,
I
mind
my
business
I'm
sagging
slightly,
and
you
riding
me
over
that.
A
A
A
I
would
never
do
that.
Equity
is
about
not
only
it's
not
Equity.
It's
also
not
only
about
low
performing
marginalized
children.
Equity
is
about
lifting
those
at
the
bottom,
while
still
pushing
those
at
the
top
who
are
not
being
pushed
it's
about,
raising
the
performance
for
all,
not
lowering
the
ceiling
just
to
be
able
to
say,
you're,
closing
a
gap.
A
It's
about
data
like
graduation,
where
our
rate
for
every
single
demographic
student
has
increased
over
the
last
10
years.
During
that
time,
the
rate
of
increase
for
both
African-American
and
Hispanic
students,
as
well
as
those
students
receiving
special
education
services
and
free
and
reduced
price
meals,
has
been
greater
than
that
of
white
students.
But
every
group
has
gone
up.
That's
the
fruit
of
the
work
of
equity.
A
That
work
also
means
ensuring
that
all
of
our
students
are
truly
prepared
for
and
feel
encouraged
and
walking
to
take
advantage
of
the
rigorous
curriculum
offered
in
our
magnet
programs
and
our
advanced
placement
classes
when
it
comes
to
Advanced
opportunities
for
our
students,
Educators
everywhere
have
to
rid
themselves
of
the
club
mentality
where
certain
students
are
invited
in
and
others
aren't,
I
wasn't
in
that
club.
As
a
student,
no
one
invited
me
to
take
a
single,
advanced
placement
course.
A
It's
about
access,
rather
than
a
bottom
line
score.
It
closes
the
door
to
no
one
but
opens
additional
Pathways
to
so
many
more.
Our
work
must
also
not
move
away
from
the
rigidity
in
which
too
many
school
systems
find
themselves.
We
must
not
just
think
outside
the
box.
We
must
work
outside
of
it
in
an
Innovative
and
differentiated
way.
A
We
must
stop
talking
about
why
we
can't
do
things
and
ask
more
about
how
we
can
do
them.
We
must
become
a
school
system
with
a
can-do
mentality.
For
example,
why
must
every
school
operate
on
the
same
schedule
every
day?
Why
can't
some
schools
be
open
longer
hours
on
some
days
or
every
day
to
allow
for
students
to
access
coursework
at
times
that
better
working
schedules
to
allow
for
things
like
internships
outside
work
and
assistance
for
their
families?
Why
must
all
of
our
students
attend
classes
five
days
a
week?
A
Why
can't
we
have
flexibility
to
at
least
entertain
four
School
weeks
in
places
where
it
would
be
beneficial,
not
the
whole
system.
The
answer
to
that
is
that
the
state
mandates
180
school
days
and
a
required
number
of
seed
hours.
So,
as
this
board
is
aware,
one
of
our
legislative
priorities
is
to
pass
legislation
that
allows
for
either
days
or
hours
in
order
to
give
us
the
flexibility
to
at
least
have
those
conversations.
Flexibility
is
the
key
to
Innovation,
which
is
what
the
blueprint
is
all
about.
A
Why
does
the
performance
of
our
African-American
students,
particularly
males
lag
behind
that
of
white
students?
What
can
we
do
differently
to
address
those
needs,
and
why,
with
doubling
the
number
of
our
English
language
Learners
over
the
last
10
years,
don't
we
have
a
single
dual
Language
School
in
our
County?
A
With
all
of
that
in
mind,
we
have
gone
about
the
task
of
developing
the
fiscal
year.
2024
operating
budget
recommendation
that
I
present
to
you
tonight.
I
asked
our
team
to
Advocate
strongly
for
what
they
need
to
take
into
account.
The
upcoming
sunsets
in
federal
and
state
funding
grants
and
to
be
mindful
of
the
need
to
focus
on
fiscal
prudence
and
responsibility.
A
We
made
very
difficult
decisions
to
arrive
at
this
recommendation:
trimming
more
than
80
million
dollars
from
departmental
program.
Enhancement
requests
not
because
they
weren't
needed
as
I've
always
stated.
It
costs
money
to
be
great,
but
because
I
feel
he
real
I
fully
realize
we
are
a
large
part
of
an
even
larger
picture
when
it
comes
to
funding
from
our
County.
A
My
operating
budget
recommendation
to
this
board
totals
1.68
million
billion
dollars.
That
represents
an
increase
of
150
million
dollars
from
our
current
appropriation,
but
I
wanted
I
want
to
make
the
point
that
both
the
recommended
increase
and
the
percentage
it
represents
are
lower
than
a
year
ago,
more
than
half
of
the
increase,
80.8
million
dollars
is
allocated
to
sorely
needed
additional
compensation
for
employees,
contracted
bus
drivers
and
substitute
teachers.
A
A
A
The
third
straight
year
of
a
five
dollar
per
day,
increase
for
substitute
teachers
in
the
second
consecutive
year
of
a
10
Cola
for
our
contracted
bus
drivers.
Importantly,
it
would
bring
the
wage
of
every
employee
in
our
school
system
up
to
at
least
fifteen
dollars
an
hour.
That's
just
the
first
step,
just
as
it
is
no
secret
that
we
need
to
pay
our
team
members
more.
We
also
need
more
people
and
we
need
them
in
the
right
places
of
the
additional
positions
I
am
requesting
in
this
budget.
A
88
will
be
in
front
of
students
every
single
day.
Among
those
recommendations
are
148.8
positions
in
special
education
to
deliver
services
to
students
with
special
needs,
including
the
first
phase
of
converting
Early
Childhood
Intervention
programs
to
four
day
Pre-K
21
English
language
development,
teachers
and
assistants,
12
assistant
principals
and
10
teaching
assistants
and
permanent
substitutes.
A
There
also
is
funding
for
62
positions
to
move
the
Virtual
Academy
from
grant
funding
to
our
general
operating
budget
as
Federal
Esser
funds
provided
during
covid-19
during
the
covid-19
pandemic
continue
to
expire.
Our
Virtual
Academy
is
the
first
and
the
only
one
in
the
state
to
be
a
stand-alone
School.
It
has
more
than
500
students
enrolled
with
a
capacity
of
about
660..
A
This
recommendation
also
includes
22
positions
to
staff
Vans
and
SUVs.
We
are
purchasing
to
transport
students
to
non-public
schools,
freeing
up
more
CDL
licensed
drivers
to
continue
to
chip
away
at
the
bus
route.
Outage
issue
issue
15
positions
for
it
for
additional
three-year-old,
Pre-K
programs
and
9.5
positions
to
expand
the
Triple
E
program
to
the
schools
in
the
Old
Mill
cluster.
A
To
specifically
address
the
social
and
emotional
needs
of
our
students.
I've
allocated
2.6
million
dollars
for
18
positions
that
include
four
School
psychologists:
three
social
workers,
three
counselors,
two
pupil,
Personnel
workers
and
funding
to
create
a
new
alternative
education
program
in
the
Mead
cluster
and
also
expand
one
at
the
elementary
level.
A
We
are
charged
with
a
unique
task
this
year
in
beginning
to
request
funding
to
open
three
new
schools,
one
in
the
coming
year
and
two
more
in
2024-2025
school
year.
My
recommendation
includes
6.3
million
dollars
to
open
the
Chesapeake
science,
Point
Charter
School
elementary
program
next
year
and
more
than
2.7
million
dollars
in
the
first
phase
of
funding
for
West
County
Elementary
School
in
Old,
Mill
High
School
West.
So
we
can
begin
preparations
to
launch
those
schools.
A
A
Our
estimates
put
that
number
at
just
short
of
190,
given
our
enrollment
increase
of
about
1300
students
this
year,
however,
I
believe
that
we
must
first
concentrate
on
eliminating
the
nearly
200
classroom
teacher
vacancies
we
currently
have
by
addressing
compensation,
increases
and
other
issues
and
then
approach
the
county
about
providing
more
teaching
positions.
We
must
be
responsible
team
players.
A
This
recommendation
contains
10.3
million
dollars
for
those
items,
including
the
dual
enrollment
initiative,
with
Anne
Arundel
County
Community
College,
that
I
spoke
of
earlier
career
counseling
through
the
Anne
Arundel
Workforce,
Development
Corporation,
and
funding
to
expand
our
community
school
program
under
the
concentration
of
poverty.
Grant
I
want
to
ensure
that
everyone
understands
that
we
are
being
judicious
transferring
Esser
funded
programs
into
our
operating
budget.
A
In
this
recommendation,
we
have
opted
not
to
request
funding
for
38
million
dollars
in
programs
and
Staffing,
leaving
them
funded
by
the
Esser
grants
for
one
more
year
over
the
next
12
months.
However,
we
will
need
to
make
final
decisions
on
providing
that
funding
in
our
operating
budget
or
discontinuing
the
programs.
A
They
are
by
and
large,
amazing
and
I
want
to
compliment
loudly
and
clearly
the
facilities,
operations,
maintenance
and
Logistics
teams
that
make
our
building
shine.
Every
day.
I
am
aware
of
the
massive
maintenance
backlog
in
our
County
in
the
197
million
dollar
capital
budget
recommendation.
I
am
presenting
to
you
tonight
both
chips
away
at
that
and
continued
fundings.
Funding
requests
for
five
major
school
projects.
I've
already
mentioned
one
of
those,
the
new
West
County
Elementary
School.
A
This
plan
also
contains
construction
funding
for
new
facilities
for
the
two
Old
Mill
Middle
Schools,
the
center
of
Applied
technology
North
in
a
replacement
for
the
existing
Old
Mill
High
School.
It
is
important
that
we
continue
to
upgrade
the
facilities
that
serve
our
students,
but
I
must
also
emphasize
again
the
equal
importance
of
fiscal
prudence.
A
This
capital
budget
recommendation
seeks
funding
for
the
same
large-scale
projects
that
are
contained
in
the
current
Year's
budget.
We
must
concentrate
on
those
they
total
132
million
dollars
before
asking
for
funding
to
address
other
major
Capital
needs.
The
budget
recommendation
I
have
put
before
you
tonight
is
the
first
step
toward
us
becoming
great
I.
Ask
you,
however,
to
refuse
to
view
it
as
Pages
upon
pages
of
numbers.
Every
number
on
every
page
is
about
a
student
or
a
group
of
students.
A
Those
numbers
aren't
Republican
or
Democrat.
They
don't
take
one
side
or
the
other
of
the
many
polarizing
issues
that
grip
our
County.
They
take
the
side
of
students,
students
who
dreams
are
bright
and
Vivid
on
one
of
my
school
visits.
Earlier
this
year,
I
stood
in
a
three-year-old
Pre-K
class
and
just
watched
the
room
of
excited
eager
and
enthusiastic
children
full
of
joy
as
they
work
together
and
helped
each
other
with
the
task
at
hand
in
the
comfort
of
that
classroom.
A
They
had
no
cares
and
there
were
no
limits.
You
see
as
three-year-olds
children
believe
they
can
do
anything
all
too
often
that
belief
gets
eroded
over
time,
because
our
society
has
this
bad
habit
of
crushing
spirits
and
destroying
dreams.
We
can't
do
that.
Our
children
deserve
better
than
that.
We
have
to
respect
the
differences
but
commit
to
finding
the
common
ground
the
more
common
ground
we
find,
the
more
our
students
win
and
when
our
students
win
everyone
in
our
County
wins.
Thank
you.
B
B
A
I
wanted
to
wait
to
get
back
up
here,
because
I
wanted
to
to
look
the
team
in
the
face,
and
I
really
do
want
to
express
my
sincere
gratitude
for
each
and
every
single
one
of
you.
We
did
about
20
dry
runs
of
this
and
I'm
really
exhausted,
I
feel
like
I'm
losing
my
voice,
but
the
communication
team
under
Mr
moser's
leadership-
you
all-
are
just
phenomenal.
The
finance
team
under
Mr
stansky's
leadership,
simply
phenomenal
in
all
of
our
staff.
A
Members
who
really
went
through
the
three
days
of
the
dry,
runs
and
helped
to
give
us
feedback
to
make
this
presentation
what
it
was
today.
I
just
want
to.
Thank
you
all.
It
is
a
phenomenal
process
and
one
that
I
think
should
be
replicated
around
many
school
districts
and
you
all
as
a
board
and
as
a
community,
have
a
lot
to
be
proud
of
with
the
type
of
talent
that's
in
this
school
district.
C
C
D
I
just
wanted
to
Echo
the
superintendent's
comments
and
vice
president
silkworth
comments.
I
have
been
a
staffer
for
many
years
and
I
know
the
work
that
goes
into
making
a
presentation
go
off
without
a
hitch,
so
I
just
want
to
say
kudos
to
the
person
that
was
doing
the
little
drop.
There
touch
touch.
D
On
point
on
point,
I
mean,
like
the
presentation
was
as
entertaining
as
the
comment
yeah
so
kudos
to
you
and
to
all
of
the
staff.
I
mean
I.
I
really
tell
I
say
this:
all
the
time
is
that
if
we,
if,
if
I
ever
had
a
staff
that
has
worked
as
hard
as
it
and
I
know
that
you
say
this
all
the
time.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
to
them,
but
if
I
had
a
staff
that
worked
as
hard
as
the
aacps
staff,
I
would
have
zero
problems
in
my
life.
So.